what region is elk island national park in

The assessment will consider many aspects of the existing and desired experiences, including target markets, social and ecological capacities as well as infrastructure. As a long-term strategic plan, consistent with the Government of Canadas approach to results-based planning, the management plan focuses on the results that Parks Canada wants to achieve. The locations of Calgary, Edmonton and Elk Island National Park are marked. Feedback will be considered and incorporated into the strategic environmental assessment and management plan as appropriate. At peak times, the number and needs of visitors surpassed the capacity of the parks infrastructure, services, programs and staffing complement. Parks Canada has a leadership role to play in the success of the Biosphere. This strategy also aims to strengthen the integration of the park with the regional tourism economy. Elk Island National Park You don't have to go home after watching a beautiful sunset at Elk Island National Park. Edmonton is located to the west of the park, Fort Saskatchewan to the northwest, Lamont to the north, and Tofield to the southeast. Parks Canada is investing $2.3 million in a grasslands restoration initiative in Elk Island that will continue through 2024. Direct access by motorized vehicles is allowed. Examples include: Improving relations through greater involvement of Indigenous peoples in park management and operations is a key management focus, as is contributing to the Government of Canada priority of reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. In the spirit of reconciliation, Parks Canada is working with Indigenous communities to rebuild connections to the lands within the park. The modest Tower Hill is the tallest point in the park with an elevation of 723 m (2,372 ft). The strategic environmental assessment for the management plan for Elk Island National Park considered the potential impacts of climate change, local and regional activities around the park, expected increase in visitation and proposals within the management plan. However, the increase in visitation and being situated next to a major metropolitan region is also a continual opportunity to connect people to Elk Island in meaningful ways especially youth and new Canadians. Collaboration among key tourism partners and Parks Canada to promote sustainable year-round tourism in the region is maintained. For generations, people have come here for a day picnic or an overnight camping trip to escape the city's . This quiet paradise just so happens to be one of Canada's most underrated national parks. Over the life of this plan, Parks Canada will focus on building strong, respectful relationships with Indigenous partners, the hallmarks of which will be listening, sharing perspectives and working together in the spirit of reconciliation. In Elk Island, less than 1 percent of the park is in Zone V, including: The Park Superintendent may authorize motorized access in any zone for administrative and operational purposes. This key strategy focuses on connecting people to the natural and cultural heritage of Elk Island National Park through high quality visitor experiences and outreach initiatives. Elk Island offers an incredible experience that's different from other parks in the region. bison translocation to several Indigenous communities, including communities in Montana; bison translocation to the State of Alaska; development of the hyperabundant ungulate (e.g. A popular day use recreation area, it supports traditional camping, as well as alternative accommodation in the form of oTENTiks. In a transition area between the grasslands to the south and the boreal forest to the north, the aspen parkland of the Beaver Hills has a unique ecology and supports high levels of biodiversity. Opportunities for outdoor recreation activities will be encouraged only when they do not conflict with maintaining the wilderness itself. The current visitor experience offer will be assessed to meet increasing year round visitation, change in visitor use patterns, and visitation pressures. Elk Island National Park of Canada (Elk Island) is located 35 kilometers east of Edmonton, Alberta (Map 1: Regional Setting and Map 2: Elk Island National Park). [2] It is located in northeastern Alberta and the southern Northwest Territories. The objectives describe desired outcomes following implementation of program activities. Over the life of this plan, recommendations from Elk Islands recent species-at-risk planning processes will be implemented and species at risk monitoring programs will continue to evolve. Climate change vulnerability and risk assessment tools will also be implemented to identify potential impacts and solutions related to park management. Exposure in a range of regional and national online platforms, media and film featuring the park is maintained from 2022 levels. With the changes in use levels and patterns, Parks Canada is adjusting the visitor experience to meet the needs of the changing audience. The management plan supports the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy goals of Greening Government, Pristine Lakes and Rivers, Sustainably Managed Lands and Forests, Healthy Wildlife Populations, Connecting Canadians with Nature, and Safe and Healthy Communities. Elk Island is within Treaty 6 territory and the Mtis Nation homeland. Look for herds of bison, elk or one of more than 250 bird species that call this special place home. There are two Zone I areas that encompass less than 1 percent of the park. Although bounded by a perimeter fence, the park plays a critical role as a core protected area within the UNESCO Beaver Hills Biosphere and is a core protected area within a critically endangered ecosystem. The Beaver Hills form a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in the Edmonton Capital Region of Alberta, Canada. The abundance of species at risk, as well as ecologically significant and culturally sensitive species, is high within the Beaver Hills. Elk Island National Park expansion has increased overall landscape connectivity, conservation, and ecological stewardship of the Beaver Hills Biosphere. Zone I Special Preservation covers saline marshes in the southwest corner of the park and soap holes in the eastern most side of the park at the centre of the north-south plane. Over the next ten years, Parks Canada will focus its efforts on increasing regional and national audiences connection to Elk Island National Park through a comprehensive approach to communications, outreach, promotion and marketing. Lastly, the Ukrainian Pioneer Home is a replica historic building completed in 1951 to honour Ukrainian pioneer settlers in east central Alberta and the Canadian prairies. Despite this, wetland habitat within the Beaver Hills has been lost at an alarming rate. This "island of conservation" is 35 km (22 mi) east of Edmonton, along the Yellowhead Highway, which goes through the park. All habitat for species-at-risk are identified and mapped. Thirty-five minutes east of Edmonton lies a wild oasis. The holds historical and cultural significance with over 200 separate archaeological locations that reveal tool-making remnants as well as campsites or some type of living. Education programs will be developed and delivered to visitors, promoting awareness about their role in reducing overall invasive species presence in the park. Indigenous peoples who depended on bison were devastated and their lives radically changed. Meetings will be held with Indigenous people and stakeholder representatives. Visitor infrastructure investments will focus on improving accessibility and creating a safe and inclusive environment for visitors and staff. Experience the rolling hills, glassy lakes, and star-filled skies of Elk Island National Park, a UNESCO designated Biosphere Reserve just 35 minutes east of Edmonton. 25-metre buffer along the inside of the entire boundary fence, access trail to the Oster Lake campground, Elk Island Parkway and associated trailhead parking, Wood Bison Trail access road and trailhead parking at the south side of the Yellowhead Highway. This map shows Elk Island National Park. Arrows point to neighbouring communities identify that Edmonton is 35 km west, Vegreville is 54 km east, and Lamont is 5 km north of the park. Elk Island National Park, located 35 km east of Edmonton has been an important refuge for bison, amongst many other species of animals. Bison have also been transferred to other national parks and perhaps most significantly, to numerous Indigenous communities. Parks Canada will create and participate in opportunities to identify and coordinate climate change mitigation and adaptation actions. Initially created as a wildlife sanctuary for elk in 1906, Elk Island became a national park in 1913. Over the past five years, the park has transferred 212 bison to their traditional homelands to nine Indigenous communities. Website. Respect for Indigenous knowledge systems is woven throughout management activities. The park will be completing species at risk planning, which will be coordinated at a regional level with partner agencies for transboundary species. Located about 30 minutes east of Edmonton, Elk Island is known for its wildlife - especially the. Regulatory review and regional planning processes provide valuable opportunities to address potential transboundary issues from adjacent development in the Industrial Heartland. Soap holes are an uncommon hydrogeological formation found on the Canadian prairies, generally formed through the pressure of an artesian well. Park Canada will also work with these tourism partners to promote sustainable environmental tourism practices. Elk Island National Park, AB T8L 2N7 View Phone View Website $$ $$ Average Rate 80 Sites Hookups 100 m 300 ft + - Leaflet | OpenStreetMap Add Photos Login for Latitude, Longitude, and Elevation Info - Click Here Features & Amenities Pull-thru Sites Pets Allowed Tent Camping Restrooms Showers Indigenous cultures are acknowledged and celebrated in visitor experiences and park information. As a park that actively manages plains and wood bison, elk and moose, it is the only national park in Canada that is completely fenced. This park is excellent for viewing wildlife such as bison, elk and over 250 bird species. Wherever possible, targets are based on measurable data that are monitored by Parks Canada through Agency-wide programs; other benchmarks and targets may need to be established and measured locally by the park. Ongoing European settlement, including the creation of Indian Reserves, the wildlife sanctuary and the national park, further disconnected Indigenous peoples from their traditional lands and practices. The park also forms a key part of an international migratory bird flyway. Canada is a vast country filled with a variety of natural wonders and its National Parks do not disappoint. Indigenous cultural sites, values, and place names in the park will be identified, protected and communicated where appropriate in collaboration with Indigenous partners. Motorized access and circulation will not be permitted. The pavilion is an open kitchen shelter which was built in 1934 and has welcomed generations of picnickers for nearly 90 years. In total over the past century, Elk Island has transferred over 3300 plains and wood bison to sites around the globe. The perpetuation of ecosystems with minimal human interference is encouraged. Consider staying overnight at one of our three camping sites with options to stay in a tent, RV, or the backcountry. The area holds importance as a seasonal fishing, hunting, and communal food gathering area. Plains provide habitat for bison, wood bison, moose, deer, and elk. This vision expresses the desired future of Elk Island National Park in 15-20 years, serving as a foundation for this management plan. More areas are protected in a natural or near-natural state. Significant changes have occurred to the parks aquatic systems over the last 100 years, including draining of wetlands, alterations to the hydrological connectivity with the North Saskatchewan River, and influxes of contaminants and organic pollutants. For the duration of this management plan, five key strategies have been developed to guide the management direction for Elk Island National Park. Annual Reporting publicly communicates ongoing implementation, connecting actions to direction set in the management plan. Measures of ecological integrity are showing that visitation is not impairing the parks ecosystem. Just 50 minutes from downtown Edmonton, Elk Island National Park, located in the Beaver Hills Biosphere, boasts incredible experiences that will remain with you long after you leave. Only 30 miles (48 kilometers) east of Edmonton, a relatively unknown location provides a haven for bison, elk, and birds as well as for outdoor enthusiasts, stargazers, and wildlife watchers. Elk Island National Park is located 35 km east of Edmonton and approximately 340 km north of Calgary. Stories allow Canadians to see themselves, whoever and wherever they are. Targets offer tangible ways of measuring progress toward achieving each objective. Within an hour's drive of Alberta's bustling capital of Edmonton lies a place of quiet, where no city lights dilute the starry sky. The management plan identifies targets for ungulate population management, fire management on the landscape, and invasive plant management to address concerns related to terrestrial habitats. There has been an increase in the research undertaken by Elk Island to understand the ecological impacts of climate change on the parks ecosystem, relative to 2022 levels. Paddle on Astotin Lake. The Agencys programs and tools that are common sources of measurable targets include: Specific time frames for reaching certain targets have been provided where possible; where no timeframe has been referenced, the target will be achieved during the ten-year plan period. Parks Canadas policy provides for the designation of environmentally and culturally sensitive areas to complement the zoning system. See Answer 75 percent of visitors surveyed considered they had learned about the natural heritage of the park. 1913. It protects for all time the ecological integrity of the boreal forest and southern plateaux natural region. Further reading on things to do in . Being Canada's sixth oldest of forty-six national parks, Elk Island National Park is situated in the Amiskwaciy, which is the Cree word for this region, and is otherwise known in English as the Beaver Hills. 2 Bedroom For Rent Ocala, Fl, Articles W